Croatia Study Abroad: Summer Study in Dubrovnik and Split

June 22 - July 31, 2009

DESCRIPTION

Croatia, the rising star of the Mediterranean, is an oasis of untouched beauty. Its dazzling Adriatic coastline, where the legacies of Romans, Venetians and Habsburgs intermingle, is unique. Our six-week Croatia program is designed to provide students with a multi-disciplinary perspective on Dalmatian and Southeast European history, culture and society from the early medieval period to the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Faculty include leading specialists on the Balkans from the United States, Europe, and Croatia.

The program takes place in the cities of Dubrovnik and Split and on the island of Vis in the Adriatic Sea. Dubrovnik is a charming city curling around a tiny harbor. The city itself is a text, its red-roofed 17th-century town houses and Baroque palaces forming a rich background for the study of Renaissance culture and the complex political and historical fate of the city and the Dalmatian region. Students make field trips to sites in surrounding areas, including Montenegro, whose beautiful bays, picturesque villages and vibrant metropolises are major tourist destinations. Split has been a major urban center for more than 1700 years. The regional capital of Dalmatia, built inside and around the historical Diocletian Palace, Split is a cosmopolitan city draped in history. It is a world heritage site that weaves together imperial memories, traditional Dalmatian culture and modern urban life in its numerous cafes and open-air markets. A long excursion to Komiza on the island of Vis exposes students to the customs and seafaring culture of the Adriatic islands.

Courses taught by Northwestern University and European experts on architecture, art, cultural history, literature, political science, sociology, history and religion take place at the IUCC, University of Zagreb, Dubrovnik campus and at the University of Split. This unforgettable experience is designed to provide students with a multi-faceted primer on Croatia, the Adriatic Sea, the former Yugoslavia and the surrounding region.

Highlights

No language requirement.

2 course credits (optional 3rd independent study course credit available, which allows for NU financial aid).

Many study excursions.

Great opportunity to explore the people, culture, life and history of a completely new country.

Deepest blue seas and the beautiful beaches of the Dalmatia.

Central location allows for pre- or post-program travel in Europe, Asia or the Middle East.